Mobile apps are the driving force behind smartphones and tablets, which in turn have a noticeable dominance over the overall tech consumer base.
Studies have shown that a lot more people have preferred to do their internet browsing and time killing, as well as completing important tasks from their mobile devices.
This means that it is becoming more and more likely to see someone with a phone or a tablet than it is to spot them with a laptop computer, let alone a desktop computer.
Today, being a mobile app developer can be a very fruitful job, but not all apps pay the same. You cannot expect to just throw whatever on the app store and get rich overnight, or become extremely popular for that matter.
Just like anything else that is generating a lot of interest, mobile apps are split into categories and types, and some are more popular than others.
In this article we will take a look at what trends we can expect to overcome mediocrity in terms of mobile apps for the upcoming year, so that when 2017 finally arrives, you will already know which apps are going to see a lot of hits.
AR (Augmented Reality)
Augmented Reality apps are among the trends we can expect to see more of, come 2017. These apps will a rise in popularity, even more so than before, due to the enhancements made to the necessary technology.
There a lot of uses for augmented reality in a mobile environment, ranging from fun and ways to present video games (like Pokemon GO, the wildly popular AR mobile game that has had a massive impact worldwide) to apps like InkHunter, which lets you combine the app’s functionality with your phone’s camera, to try out different tattoos and see how they would look before deciding to actually get them inked in.
VR (Virtual Reality)
Although still in its inception phase, virtual reality, which is different than augmented reality, lets you explore concepts and places from a first person perspective, giving you an immersion sense.
The whole point of virtual reality is to make you feel like you’re actual there (wherever “ there” is). It is achieved through the use of special VR headsets and with the increasing popularity and user interest in the technology, with several headsets as well as applications for VR already on the market, virtual reality will most likely be a focus point for the upcoming year.
Location Based Apps
The interest in location based mobile applications will continue to grow into the next year. With the immense availability of GPS technology available worldwide through, it is easier than ever for mobile phones all across the world to stay connected.
Several tech giants have acquired location based technology in the recent past.
Related blog: iBeacon Development brings GPS in Indoors for In-Store Commerce
Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps are actually web sites developed by business, which are meant to be perceived and have the quality and visual aspects of mobile apps.
The popularity of mobile apps is being infused into the internet itself, and 2017 will most likely see a rise of PWAs that convert traditional browsing into websites with a mobile app format.
Streaming Apps
Streaming technology is also on a rise and in 2017, we can expect more apps that focus on streaming content similar to how Netflix or even YouTube provide content streaming on a mobile platform.
This will be even more enhanced by users preferring to stream content rather than get physical or even digital offline copies of their favorite movie or TV series.
Android Instant Apps
Android Instant Apps introduced by Google not that long ago, instant apps suggest a new way of using mobile apps. The whole thing revolves around not downloading apps at all, but rather using them directly from the internet.
The initiative is promoted as having an app just when you need it and is bound to have larger market impact next year.
Conclusion
In consequence, some mobile app profiles will benefit from the upcoming year in a traditional “supply and demand” type of way, but upped a notch for the current times focused around fast delivery of cutting edge content, if possible, while delivering a thrill.
There are other app categories that will see a continuous increase of volume, but these are some of the ones you can look forward to.
